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Free radon test kits available in Jeffco while they last

January is National Radon Action Month

Posted
Friday, January 4, 2019 12:43 pm

Staff report

Jefferson County Public Health (JCPH) will be offering free radon test kits to Jefferson County residents, one per address and on a first come-first served basis, at its location in Lakewood, 645 Parfet St., during the month of January.

This month in Jeffco, nine government agencies and boards have come together to recognize the significant effect radon gas can have on health and in homes. The Jefferson County Board of Health, Jefferson County Board of Commissioners, cities of Lakewood, Golden, Arvada, Wheat Ridge and Edgewater and the towns of Morrison and Mountain View have all either issued or plan to issue a proclamation recognizing January as National Radon Action Month.

Radon is a dangerous and naturally occurring radioactive gas that you cannot smell, taste or see. People are exposed to radon primarily from breathing radon in air that enters homes and other buildings through cracks and gaps in foundations. Radon exposure is the leading cause of lung cancer among non-smokers and a top environmental cause of cancer nationwide. In Jefferson County, more than half of homes tested have high levels of radon. While there is always some radon in the air, high levels of exposure to radon over time can lead to a significant risk of developing lung cancer. The risk of lung cancer is even greater for smokers who are exposed to radon.

“We are grateful to the county, cities and towns around our area for helping us recognize the importance of radon testing and mitigation in Jefferson County,” said Mitchell Brown, environmental health Supervisor at Jefferson County Public Health. “We hope that, in part, because of their help we can help more people across the county assess and lessen their risk of radon exposure.”

In addition to providing the free test kits, JCPH staff can help homeowners understand how to use the test kits properly and what to do if the test results show high levels of radon in the air. If action is needed to reduce radon in a home, it's important to test homes for radon again to be sure the action worked and the air is safe. Testing homes and installing proper air quality controls if high levels of radon exist is an effective way to prevent the harmful effects of the gas.